Did You Know Computer Glasses and Reading Glasses Aren't the Same Thing?

The Distance Problem Nobody Talks About

You need reading glasses. So you grab a pair, put them on, and sit down at your computer. Everything looks... kind of blurry. Or you can see the screen, but you have to lean way forward. Or your eyes feel strained after an hour even though you're wearing your readers.

Here's the problem: reading glasses aren't designed for computer work.

It sounds obvious once you hear it, but most people don't realize that "reading distance" and "computer distance" are two very different things—and they require different optical solutions.

The Math of Focal Distance

Traditional reading glasses are calibrated for a specific working distance: about 14-16 inches. That's roughly the distance from your eyes to a book in your lap or a document on a desk directly in front of you.

Your computer monitor sits much farther away—typically 20-26 inches from your face. Some people with larger monitors sit even farther back.

The difference might not sound like much, but to your eyes, it's significant. Reading glasses that work perfectly at 14 inches become too strong at 24 inches. The focal point falls short of your screen, forcing your eyes to strain to compensate.

It's like trying to use a magnifying glass at the wrong distance. The physics don't work.

The Symptoms of Wrong-Distance Glasses

When you use reading glasses for computer work, you might experience:

• Blur: The screen never looks quite sharp, even after cleaning your glasses


• Posture problems: You lean forward to get closer to your focal point, straining your neck and back


• Eye strain: Your eyes work overtime trying to focus through the wrong prescription


• Headaches: Often centered around the forehead or temples


• Fatigue: Feeling tired after just an hour or two of screen work

Many people assume these symptoms mean they need a different prescription strength. They try stronger readers, then weaker readers, and nothing quite works. (Keep in mind that your reading power will change over time—but that's a separate issue.) The real problem here isn't the power—it's the designed focal distance.

What Actually Works for Computer Use

Option 1: Computer-Specific Reading Glasses

These are single-vision readers made for intermediate distance (about 20-26 inches) rather than close reading distance. The power is typically lower than your reading glasses—often about half the strength.

For example, if you use +2.00 readers for books, you might need around +1.00 to +1.25 for computer distance.

The downside: these only work for computer distance. You'd still need separate readers for books and phones.

Option 2: Extended Vision Readers

Extended Vision Readers (like EV6 or EV20) are designed specifically to solve this problem. Instead of a single focal distance, they provide a range of clear vision.

The EV6, for example, covers 18 inches to 6 feet—so your phone, your keyboard, your monitor, and your colleague across the desk are all in focus without switching glasses. The lens gradually shifts power from bottom to top, giving you the right correction at every distance within its range.

Option 3: Occupational Progressive Lenses

For prescription wearers, occupational progressives (sometimes called "office lenses" or "computer progressives") prioritize near and intermediate vision over distance. They're designed for desk work rather than all-purpose wear. (Curious how these compare to EV Readers? See our EV Readers vs. Progressive Lenses guide.)

The Blue Light Question

Computer glasses are often marketed with blue light filtering, which raises the question: is blue light actually a problem?

The research is mixed. There's no strong evidence that blue light from screens causes permanent eye damage. However, some people report that blue light filtering reduces eye strain and improves sleep quality when using screens at night.

Blue light filtering is a nice-to-have feature, but it doesn't solve the focal distance problem. If your glasses are focused at the wrong distance, blue light filtering won't make the blur go away.

The good news: many quality reading glasses and extended vision readers now include blue light filtering as a standard feature—so you can get both benefits without choosing.

How to Find Your Computer Power

If you want to try single-vision computer glasses, here's a rough guide:

Start with your reading power (e.g., +2.00)

Reduce by about 0.50 to 0.75 for typical computer distance (so +1.25 to +1.50)

Adjust based on how far you sit from your screen

The farther your monitor, the less magnification you need. Someone with a large monitor who sits 30 inches back might only need +1.00 even if they use +2.50 for reading.

This takes some experimentation. But if you've been struggling with screen work using your regular readers, trying a lower power might be a revelation.

The Bigger Picture

Modern life doesn't happen at one fixed distance. You're checking your phone, typing on your keyboard, looking at your monitor, glancing at a coworker—all within minutes.

Reading glasses were designed for a world where "reading" meant sitting in a chair with a book. That world still exists, but it's no longer most of our visual day.

Matching your glasses to your actual working distances—not just defaulting to standard readers—can transform your comfort and productivity. Your eyes are working hard enough. Give them the right tools.